ERIE, Pa. – The Lady Baron tennis team is the 2014 AMCC Champions, coming from behind in doubles yet again on their way to a 5-2 win over defending conference champions Penn St.-Behrend. The championship gives FUS a spot in the NCAA Tournament in May 2015 and makes them the first women's team from Franciscan to qualify for national competition.

"They just deserve it, they worked so hard," said head coach Jenna Lynch. "They're just an amazing group of girls, so to see them finally get to the culmination of what they've been working towards, I have no words."

In almost a carbon copy of their semi-final match, Franciscan started the day down on all three doubles courts but rallied to win at no. 2 and no. 3.

The no. 1 doubles team of senior Alanna Murray and sophomore Claire Haddad almost pulled off the double sweep coming back from a 6-3 deficit only to lose 9-7 in a tie-breaker set. Despite losing that particular match, Franciscan still finished doubles play up 2-1.

"Story of our lives. That's what they do, they start off so tight," Lynch said. "I was getting anxious right away and I purposely stepped away because I knew it always takes them awhile to come around."

The trend continued in singles, with Lynch again deciding not to watch, as Franciscan went down 1-0 at all six singles courts. Sure enough, however, the Lady Baron's depth pulled through, with freshman Anna O'Connor and sophomore Erin Coyne turning around their matches quickly at no. 5 and no. 6 singles.

"Anna came off strong right out of the gate. She wasn't nervous like she was in the last match," Lynch said.

O'Connor was the first to finish with a 6-1, 6-0 win and Coyne soon followed with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep. With FUS down at no. 1 and no. 2, the match became a race between Claire Haddad and Allison Jensen at no. 3 and no. 4 to see who could get the fifth and final point first.

Both sophomores won their first set 6-3 and both took early leads in the second set but it was Jenson who won the race and gave Franciscan their final winning point.

"They played so hard that the outcome was just the culmination of the way they played," Lynch said. "I'm super pumped for them."

Winning the programs first AMCC Championship is also a reflection of Lynch's hard work and perseverance after making runs at the title but coming up short in each of her first three years with program. Last season the Lady Barons were conference runners-up, losing to Berend 5-2.

"For the program to finally get the title feels good. If feels like all the hard work is in that cup right there," Lynch said pointint to the championship trophy. "It's kind of like building the field of dreams. I really haven't done a whole lot. God has been blessing the program. The championship is just a culmination of His blessing."

With their wins over the last two days, the Lady Barons put the finishing touches on an undefeated conference season and finished the year with a 12-1 record. Coyne and O'Connor also finished the season undefeated in conference play as singles players.

The Lady Baron's season will end for the fall with this win but will pick up again in the spring as they prepare for their first NCAA Tournament appearance in May 2015.